Top 20 Records of the year 2009 — Aulismedia Audio Library


1		Apoptygma Berzerk - Rocket Science (Gun) Key tracks: Asleep Or Awake?, Shadow, Green Queen, Butterfly Defect, Trash What they always fail to cover in all the reviews: You And Me Against The World was the start of a new era for Apoptygma Berzerk. They finished their drift from the lands of EBM to radio friendly rock performed by heavily maked-up goths or something. And this time a number of good songs impresses, it’s really an album also united by a common theme, not just a collection of songs that could meet anywhere. Having a solid conceptual album is such a luxury for a modern rock band. What they kept from the old Apoptygma, is the electronic playfulness, in a form it was used on the albums Harmonizer and Welcome To Earth. The benefit now is a crisp, much more organic sound. And their concerts is a different story, they look and sound so solid, so dynamic! I know many people who were into APB 10 years old now simply reject the band for its transformation, and they will find this a bit difficult to accept, but to me it seems pretty clear that Rocket Science is beautifully glorious album, a great demonstration of today’s incredibly powerful synth-rock scene presented with allusions to the typical disco sound of something like Giorgio Moroder. Everything here is coherent and harmonious. The album is a very sophisticated blend of rock, electronics, politics and even fashion (look for it outside the sound, yet still) and just sets the mood! Great!



2		Morrissey - Years Of Refusal (Attack) Key tracks: Something Is Squeezing My Skull, Black Cloud, I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris, All You Need Is Me, It's Not Your Birthday Anymore This album took a while to grow on me, and having listened to it for a good week on repeat, it became tremendously appealing. In my opinion, it’s his second best record after You’re The Quarry, but then I’m conservative and I feel for old stuff sometimes more than reasonable. If so, you can call this one his best work so far. Anyhow, this is Morrissey’s another standout. Morrissey is being in a great shape, energetically sarcastic as never before. Lyrics like “It’s not your birthday anymore” and “You were good in your time” are probably close to the edge, one more step and he’s too much, but he knows his limits and never pushes them. Morrissey has matured in his songwriting skills well enough to be as precise and effective as it takes to cause your brain to start itching. These songs may be not as catchy as Alma Matters or some tunes from You Are The Quarry, but they are tighter, easier produced yet sounding heavier, with more rock feeling in them. When I think about it, my own grumpiness quite well falls into a person (or the ego, maybe?) that he sings his songs from, that sarcastic sentimental guy. Sad if so. And great album anyway.



3		Kettel - Myam James Part 2 (Sending Orbs) Key tracks: Shinjuku Inn, Boekebaas, You Understand This Night?, Sentiment, Sauce This Kettel’s record has refreshed his own record set back in 2004 with Volleyed Iron. It immediately suggests a fundamentally different approach, other than Myam James Part 1 (which was also very very good by all means!). Kettel here offers piano pieces, almost barenaked, accompanied by just a few household ambient noises, bird songs, and some electronic bleeps. This album looks so more acoustic in a good way than the others. The fact that Kettel has chosen Benn Jordan (the man behind The Flashbulb) as a producer has taken its toll. Anyway, we can find here on Myam James Part 2 all the ingredients that make the current electronic sound of Holland: well developed complex melodies, sounds inherited from the acid, mind-blowing ambient. But probably the most important thing is the desire for change, and to it we owe the pleasure. The compositions on the piano are so enjoyable that they become very difficult to miss. In fact, here we discover this fellow’s new layer of talents – when he sits behind a piano. All the IDM bits are still there and dynamic drive that we used to on his previous records is still in place. As a result, the album is a completely opposite term to “boring”, and is mostly an album successful in any way you look at it.



4		Sparks - Seduction Of Ingmar Bergman (Sverige Radio) Key tracks: On Route To The Beverly Hills Hotel, I've Got To Contact Sweden, The Studio Commissary, Why Do You Take That Tone With Me, He Is Home The Seduction of Ingmar Bergman is a work of comedy art blended together with brilliant music from these Californian jokers. It’s actually a radio play commissioned by Swedish Radio, the basic plot of which is that Ingmar Bergman, a well-known Swedish film director, is transported to Hollywood where the studio tries to seduce him into staying and working for the Hollywood capitalists. For Bergman, the enticement is having much larger budgets for his films. But caring for him in a Hollywood sense is a torture. After an attempt to live by Hollywood rules he wants to escape and finally does so. The work is purely brilliant, both musically and script-wise. It made me laugh in several places, especially when a “sensible” limo driver tries to talk to herr Bergman, making an excuse he opened a car window and now realized that Bergman might have used to really frigid air. And when that driver makes him a compliment about Bergman’s films – “they’ve got a foreign flair”. Honestly, what he says and how he says it, it’s beyond compare, just brilliant. I love Sparks for their experimental blockbuster records, like Lil’ Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers, but this time it’s a different kind of love, I almost can see how they were sitting in the studio making up all those dialogs and laughing all the time, they are great guys, I appreciate the atmosphere that they created on this record. And not being a huge fan of musicals as a genre, this time I’m all yours, guys!



5		Malajube - Labyrinthes (Dare to Care) Key tracks: Luna, Casablanca, 333, Dragon De Glace, Ursuline Québec rock made a long way since, say, “Mon Pays est l’Hiver” or whatever that song was called in the 70s. I recalled that winter song because of the promo poster of “Labyrinthes” that I saw – four blokes in coats standing on snow. Really, I don’t know much about their popularity in the English speaking world, hopefully they have some, after all, they just had a 2 years long world tour. Personally, I like bands that have a talent for a good melody and a nerve to sing not in English. Ladyrinthes is a pure pop-rock that could be penned by persons under Jeff Lynne’s or Phil Spector’s care. Some say the guys are under heavy Beatles’ influence, but it isn’t so. Nothing is obvious here on the albums, for instance, Les Collemboles lifts off with a atmospheric synth bounce, but is punctuated halfway through by a deliciously guitar vamp. The sounds are made by traditional rock instruments, old guitars and vintage electric keyboards, as they say. Very solid record, by all means. And once again, bonus points for non-English language.



6		Vive La Fête - Disque d'Or (Firme De Disque) Key tracks: Amour Physique, Everybody Hates Me, Je Ne Pourrais Pas, On a Oublié, Courtois



7		Pet Shop Boys - Yes (Parlophone) Key tracks: Beautiful People, Vulnerable, Building A Wall, The Way It Used To Be, Legacy Topical producer house Xenomania, ex-The Smiths' Johnny Marr and Tchaikovsky — this is the short list of assistances that two beautiful aging boys used while recording their new album. First were used in the field of sound making, well-built, fashionable, electronically pulsating. The second periodically plays guitar, in particular on "Did You See Me Coming?" there's a feeling you're listening to some important new wave track until Neil starts to sing. Speaking about Tchaikovsky, his "Nutcracker" is nicely quoted on "All Over the World"... Alright, I'll ditch all these statistics. Pet Shop Boys are tremendously well preserved, as opposed to majority of their same age peers they don't need any rehabilitation or reanimation. What surprised me personally most of all is their political/social position. Even ""Love etc." gave the first hint of it, it's like the drama of their old-timer "Rent" put on rails of 2000s. I appreciate songs that incorporate ideas on failing governments and social coldness. Unfortunately the era of political rock is over, royalties are a well higher priority than honesty of creativity, but that's probably an abstract declaration, what is concrete is the fact that Pet Shop Boys is the most large-size pop outfit in the world right now. This is the noble and aristocratic music with its beautiful harmonies and well-balanced lyrics and expressions. The band has such a royal status that they share with Tchaikovsky something more that is seen on a CD cover booklet — a sense and talent for imperial pop art.



8		Depeche Mode - Sounds Of The Universe (EMI) Key tracks: Fragile Tension, Little Soul, In Sympathy, Come Back, Corrupt Depeche Mode are "Walking a thin white line between love and hate ..." since Exciter and will do so probably forever now, and this long play is not an exception, I accept it with mixed feelings. I began my review intentionally with a lyrics excerpt from the song "Come Back", since after four years of silence Depeche Mode are back again on everyone's lips. After the disappointing for me personally album "Exciter", there was a slight positive trend with "Playing The Angel" (not TOO positive, though). "Sounds Of The Universe" not only confirmed but developed and strengthened this upward trend, in a way, but it also showed weak points of Depeche Mode. Everything stands on Martin’s rare enthusiasm and Dave’s permanent egoism and selfishness. I think Dave is pretty worthless as a songwriter, he is pretty boring and the decision to allow him into songwriting for DM was a dangerous idea, later on he’ll demand even more and might very well ruin it all. Now that I have listened to all the songs many many times, I can easily say that “Jezebel” is the best song on the album, just like “Damaged People” was the best on the previous one. They are sung by Martin, if somebody doesn’t know. Some songs like “In Chains” or “Oh Well” are a pure nonsense – what are they doing on a DM record? Complete mystery to me, they are so shallow. Anyway, this record is very good, one of the best records of 2009 in my opinion. But I would have never fallen in love with the band if instead of Songs Of Faith & Devotion back in 1993 they had released something like this.



9		Jean-Benoît Dunckel - Cyprien (EMI) Key tracks: Rainbow Mind (Generique), Total Love Warrior Song, Toccata Office, Beauty Model, Happy Paris Very simplistic by its nature, this soundtrack was one of the great finding for me in 2009. Never promoted on a large scale like Dunckel’s last Darkel album, it surely is a niche record only interested to certain Air fans. Yet. This is a pure author’s record, this is where Air sounds tends to these days, very simple, playful, over-sweetened, very keyboardish. If you compare latest Air album to Kelly Watch The Stars era, it’s a disaster. But Cyprien puts everything back in place, it shows how Air will sound in a couple more years and kills any expectations that the band will become more complicated, no, no way. But hey, I already said that Cyprien is a great record, and it really is, if you take it easy. It’s a shame that the movie Cyprien was never translated in any language and only available in its original French. I watched just a few moments of it and I need to admit that the film is a brilliant French comedy and Dunckel’s music falls perfectly into it. Especially softer piano solo ones and nerdish version of the title track. Ok, at least we know that when Air splits up (and after their Love 2 effort I put my bet that it’ll happen sooner rather than later), there’ll be at least one worthwhile half to remain.



10		A-Ha - Foot Of The Mountain (Universal) Key tracks: The Bandstand, Real Meaning, Nothing Is Keeping You Here, Sunny Mystery, Start The Simulator a-ha released a fantastic new album, very 80s-like (yet not retro). Melodies are brilliant and effective, they hit you immediately and you’re suddenly a slave for jumpy pop piano sequences. The first drawback that you see instantly is the number of tracks on a CD — only 10. A bit short for an album, isn’t it? I recall the original Jackson’s Thriller originally included only 9, but was from the LP age and certainly lasted longer than this one ... It is therefore difficult to assess. It is a bad point to start, but fortunately with a-ha, we are reassured by the quality of all the songs is exceptional. Another bad point is the sound that rings back on some titles, not because the synths have a dated sound but because the sound is perfect, synthetically perfect. Indeed, the bandstand sounds very successful and well-produced, it's melodic, pretty, well made, simple, classy, in a way that only a-ha can do.



11		Air - Love 2 (Astralwerks) Key tracks: Do The Joy, Love, So Light Is Her Footfall, Be A Bee, Missing The Light Of The Day Statistically speaking, Air is still Air. Everything is still in place, synth bells, 70s-like psychedelic fuzzed guitars, vocoded voices, phat analog pads. Yet there’s one thing is missing here, little something called inspiration. Some tracks are brilliant as ever, like “Tropical Disease”, it makes me twist and shout and jump on a chair, but some others are a complete nonsense, like “The Dream Of Yi”. One of the good ones, “Be A Bee”, is a studio version of a track they play on concerts since 1998. A lesson in conjugation of English verbs, called “Sing Sang Sung” deserves its own remark — 10 years ago Air wouldn’t let themselves produce such a sugary plum for juniors. For this matter, Jean-Benoît’s solo effort, “Cyprien” is much more appreciated, because it sounds the same but doesn’t have expectations like the Air studio record. Honestly, I don’t see much difference between Cyprien and Love 2 — similar harmonies, same infantilism, same externalism (yet it’s ok for a soundtrack to be a bit shallow). There’s one more track that attracted me immediately - Au Fond Du Rêve Doré, sung by Françoise Hardy (as opposed to Dunckel’s own vocal sweetness), but after the first minute I was already fed up with it. Now, if you ask me if this album is any good, I’ve got two answers. First, critically speaking, it’s a waste of effort. Second, personally, I like it a lot. C’est la vie, I’m a bag of contradictions.



12		Benjamin Biolay - La Superbe (Phantom) Key tracks: La Superbe, 15 Août, Miss Catastrophe, Si Tu Suis Mon Regard, Prenons Le Large



13		Gui Boratto - Take My Breath Away (Kompakt) Key tracks: Colors, Azzurra, Besides, Godet Hailed by all the positive criticism (both press and public) on the occasion of the release of his first album “Chromophobia”, Gui Boratto is back in 2009, still on the Kompakt label with a new set of aces, substantially different from a previous record, but still on the high level, as we can expect from this São Paulo music engineering facility. Minimal techno still dominates the scene here, Gui Boratto has a bit of chill pop in his music, and the titles overall are more melodic. A set of contrasts, alternating cold techno and electro tracks, addition of more pop-sounding vintage feel — this is truly appreciated. In short, this album contains a plenty of little surprises ... and no doubt will disappoint some of fans of for "easy pop" moods, but try to listen to it a few more times and it’ll grow on you. Anyway, even though a couple tracks seem a little redundant (it’s a typical for almost all electronic albums), globally "Take My Breath Away" listens with real pleasure.



14		Röyksopp - Junior (Ronatron) Key tracks: Happy Up Here, Röyksopp Forever, Miss It So Much, Were You Ever Wanted



15		Archive - Controlling Crowds (Warner) Key tracks: Bullets, Dangervisit, Clones, Funeral This album has a chance of being called the top one of the season. There were lots who waited for the new Archive record but I was not among them, it took me by surprise and the good one it was indeed! With thick depressive atmospherics, sad melodies, strong singer's voice, clever production — just brilliant. very hypnotic music, with great build of energy, the whole wall of sound hits you this instant once you start the second track, "Bullets". There is some pink-floydish mood that I clearly recall and appreciate from their monumental "Again". Or has it become closer to Radiohead this time? Archive play with synth/guitar combo sounds, play vocal like another instrument, easily putting some odd phrase on a loop and that puts you in trance. Enjoyable work! I become unreasonably weak when depressive music delivers lyrics that basically describe me the present or the past, I just can't stand it, I fall into it. "Come touch me like I’m an ordinary man / Have a look in my eyes" — really, such things turn me on, no kidding. Comparing this album to their older works, I can't really do that, I just don't remember exactly what kind of output they had album-wise. Probably it's less prog rock and more trip-hop. "Bullets" by the end of it reminds M83 a whole lot. Not a bad thing at all.



16		Lily Allen - It's Not Me, It's You (Parlophone) Key tracks: The Fear, Not Fair, I Could Say, Chinese



17		Luigi Rubino - A Theme For The Moon (Prikosnovenie) Key tracks: Last Dance, Nostalgie, Fragments, Voice In The Eyes, Melancholic Lisbon



18		Ugress - Reminiscience (Uncanny Planet) Key tracks: Ugress - AMZ 1974, Ugress - Chrome Shuriken Dragonfire, Ugress feat. Heidi Marie Vestrheim - Cthulhu's Night Out, Ugress feat. Sjur Hjeltnes - Sordid Pulse, Ugress - Malaria 22



19		various - Valerie And Friends (Onelove) Key tracks: Minitel Rose - Zombie Lady, Anoraak - Long Distance Hearts, Dvas - Inner Sanctum, Maethelvin - Lost In Big City, The Outrunners - Runaways



20		rec.tangle - Heavy Maple (Melodic) Key tracks: Square One, Anima's Lament, Balloon Ascending, Ethylic Fugue In Q Minor, The Meadow Green


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